Monday

Grand's Vacations

Wednesday, July 31st

We are headed to Hillsborough to go with Katie to see Mama Mia at DPAC and to pick up Audrey for her vacation with us.  Katie's friend Sally joined us for dinner and the show. It was nice to catch up with her and hear about her family! We love going to DPAC with Katie and the show was wonderful! Thanks Katie!!


Thursday

It is the first day of Audrey's vacation with us so we are headed to Lynchburg. We stopped at the stone village on Route 86 since Audrey was never there. Today we chatted with the home owner. She told us it was her father's retirement project and he worked on it for 10 years! She also gave us squash, zucchini and cucumbers!


On Friday, we went to Nelson County and hiked the Crabtree Falls Trail.  Audrey is a super hiker and kind  (she waited for her grands at each switch back)!  We were impressed how she constantly found and showed us neat flowers, bugs, lizards, etc.  Audrey is definitely a budding naturalist. 


Saturday we toured Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson's summer home in Lynchburg.  Audrey found all of the items in the treasure hunt and her reward was a copy of the Declaration of Independence!  Oh, we all learned what a "balustrade" is!


We went to SML Sunday to see Aunt Jenny. We went for a boat ride,  ate lunch at a marina, anchored in a cove and then hung out at Jenny's dock...swimming and relaxing.  The day ended with Jenny providing a delicious roast beef meal!


Monday we took Audrey home and brought Henry to the Burg for his time with us! He just started cross country training for the fall season, so after dinner he went for a run in the neighborhood. Henry is a very talented runner and he has the discipline needed to keep improving!  The first thing he wondered was who could take him to a track Tuesday morning at 7:00 a.m.?  Grandma indicated she could!

Tuesday after morning fitness was finished, we went to Woodruff's Pie Shop for lunch!  Henry could not resist their chocolate pie!  We drove up to the Peaks of Otter and had planned to do a short waterfall hike but it started to rain so we motored on with a stop at the Bower Center for the Arts in Bedford.  Note they were between exhibits! 


Wednesday, Henry and Grandma went running (walking) on Blackwater Creek.  In the afternoon, we went to Poplar Forest.  On this tour, we all got to try Thomas Jefferson's favorite chair for afternoon naps!


Thursday we headed to SML.  Jenny took us for a boat ride, we ate lunch at a restaurant and then we went to a marina for gas.  Henry was so excited because he knew it was one where you can let catfish suck your toes!

We hung out at Jenny's dock, swimming and fishing (Henry).  Then we enjoyed a wonderful chicken marsala dinner! Thanks so much for your support this week giving Audrey and Henry a great lake experience!


  

Alas, our time with Audrey and Henry is at an end.  We are headed to NC to take Henry home.  You two are wonderful people! Grandma and I love spending time with you and we love you both very much!
























 

Wednesday

Great Allegheny Passage

 Thursday July 11th

On our way to Farmington in western Pennsylvania to film a YouTube video of the Great Allegheny Passage Rail Trail. Enroute we got to see Deep Creek Lake which we know about since our days in Baltimore fifty years ago but never visited. On Friday, we toured the area and got our bearings!

On Saturday we rode from Cumberland to Frostburg and back. The GAP and C&O Canal Trails meet in Cumberland.


Sunday we rode from Meyersdale east to the Big Savage Tunnel, then back over the Eastern Continental Divide to Meyersdale and the Salisbury Viaduct. 

Big Savage Tunnel

Salisbury Viaduct

Our next ride was from Confluence to Ohiopyle, a pleasant day along the river under a tree canopy! Ohiopyle is a busy town in the summer with rafting, kayaking and biking enthusiasts!

Ohiopyle train station and GAP visitors center.

Youghiogheny River falls in Ohiopyle

Tuesday we toured the area,  eating lunch in Ohiopyle, checking out the dam and stopping at a winery near Uniontown to taste PA wine.

Youghiogheny Dam


Wednesday it was time to move to our new campground in New Staunton, PA.  The next day we rode from West Newton north about 10 miles along the river and through small villages.


West Newton train station and GAP visitors center

Youghiogheny River view


Our final ride was from McKeesport into Pittsburg. The GAP ends at the plaza where the three rivers meet!


We had one day free so we decided to visit the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.  It was a beautiful place to visit and well worth the stop!  And it was next to the University of Pittsburg, Liz and Jeff's alma mater!




This has been a fun trip with great weather and nice campgrounds.  We rode about 65 miles of the GAP so we have good clips for our video.